Wow! So Microsoft can lock you from playing offline or even accessing the system options if you're banned? Now I understand why the PS4 version of Ghosts says "offline play enabled". M$ just refuses to relinquish any control over a console we, the customer, legitimately bought.

Microsoft is really stumbling out of the gate and falling on its face with this launch. There isn't a singe positive news for the console and every negative rumour eventually turns out to be true. Actually, they were never interested in gaming to begin with. Xbox and gaming were only a trojan horse for them.

This gen they were looking to deliver the finishing blow and complete their plan that began more than a decade ago but they failed because of consumer outcry or at least were delayed for now. I shudder at the thought of what horrors MS have planned for gaming and what they would do if they were left to their own devices.

Nobodys blind they are just sensible, this is flamebait thats it. This guy doesn't even care and hasnt said a word since he signed a NDA, so all this hyperbole is just propaganda with no valid substance. The console is not released and a mistake on Targets part doesn't give anyone the right to play before the street date. If we were having the discussion on the 22nd it would be valid until then its just fanboy nonsense by the same old flamebait anti micrsoft sites like cinemablend and the very same n4g microsoft haters, I wonder why maybe because sony hasnt shown anything worthwhile you guys have nothing to do but nitpick X1, sad really ps4 launches very soon yet the ps hive mind main focus by far is X1, jealous much.

Why is Microsoft doing this? Well its before the launch date that's why. They think they can hold all their gamers back until launch day it will be more memorable or perhaps they don't have all their servers running yet. The bans are temporary supposedly. To me if you lock me out of a new car I just bought for a few weeks. It seems like I would be more pissed off at you than anything. Seems to me like Nintendo and Microsoft are stumbling all over themselves to sell their products while Sony walks on stage and smiles.

@ above. Why Day one Update? Because they are rushing it to market!! As always. So they left off some software in the first batch of consoles.

For sure this has nothing to do with requiring a connection. There is no "DRM removal" in the Day One update because none of the consoles were ever built with that stuff in it.

WHY DAY ONE UPDATE THEN????

That is an outright LIE! Microsoft said themselves, earlier in the year, that there would be a day one update to disable DRM and all of the old policy features. This is why people have been saying "If you can turn it off in a patch, you can turn it back on in a patch."

OH NOES! I am going to freak out and abandon my Xbox one for the safety of the PS4 because I am oblivious that playing games, and even consoles online may result in a ban like they have for many years!!!

Please. Some of you are either incredibly oblivious, or just intentionally acting so.

Are you kidding me? You support a company that created one good franchise aka Halo but is ready to drill you up the ass and suck the money out of you. I'm not defending Sony but they have come out with some amazing games this generation. Why would you support such a company? Do you have no self respect and dignity?

Lol I lost some iq points reading your garbage. When has it ever been not Ok to use something that YOU PURCHASED THUS MAKING YOU THE OWNER OF THAT DEVICE? Is it not your property then if you cant use it early? No human wouldn't not use something if they got it early unless you are an xbot, xbug, or xboner.

Yes it's your system but it is still THEIR services you are using. The same applies to Sony when you log into PSN and have to check mark a ToS agreement.

Why would MS want someone leaking features that might not be ready before launch, and posting it all over youtube for the world to see? Hmmmm, maybe because some websites like N4G might blow up and claim the Xbox One won't be ready for launch! That might be one reason.

How about this CoD issue? Someone plays the game early and it's obvious the X1 is not set up yet as we have already heard from Panello but even in that small amount of time we got mass reports of the X1 still having DRM built inside.

THIS is why MS does not want the console shown off early. They know the internet is just ready to explode with hate and bias.

Exactly diamond. These people complaining about something they deem is Microsoft's fault is misguided. That is intentional obviously. Obviously Microsoft had no intent for people to use the console when this impatient person logged it online. And everyone here knows it was going to lock up in 24hrs without the day one update.

ive defended MS since the X1 announcement but this is just wrong. you want to punish someone, you punish the retailer. this man paid for his console legitimately and planned to wait until release date but then didnt have too. not his fault by any means.

MS is very lucky i dont work for sony because if i did, i would send him a ps4 for free and let him play it all he wants. that kind of press would destroy MS even more

You fail to recognise a few key facts: - It's not his fault he received the console early. - He's not signed an NDA or is beholden to Microsoft in any way. - I doubt it says "If our supply chain derps up and you get your console early, we'll screw you" in the Terms of Services.

This guy owns the console early through no fault of his own and he absolutely should not have arbitrary "punishments" forced upon him by Microsoft because somebody else screwed up.

I was actually wondering if Sony would make a move like that, just to rub salt in the wound, and give us forum goers some fun discussion for the week up to the PS4's release. Doing so means some other person, not as bright, may post the information this guy didn't.

I doubt they will though. The embargo is about lifted, and even Francis wasn't allowed to show anything that wasn't already known.

Sometimes it's fun to think about what would come of PR stunts like that though.:)

The people who disagree with you are the reasons why microsoft can do what they do. I understand that the online services is theirs and thats ok. But to have the ability to band you out of your legitimate bought product is just crazy. The person has a 500 brick. Thats some serious control and where in the terms it says he cannot access his product which he owns? This is very worrying and I have been saying that microsoft will implement control no matter how they spin the DRM or other aspects of how they intend to control content and software. At least sony puts the DRM status on the back of a box to give the person whom is buying the option to reconsider purchasing the product. The bottom line is I do not like the way home gaming is changing. When you bought a SNES, n64, dreamcast, ps2, etc, etc, you buy the system, you put the game in, you play the game. That is it. Now we have all these instruments of control that is really souring the way we access games or enjoy content. I dont want to get home and plug up my device and wait hours to update the console, reboot, update games, reboot game, update apps, reboot apps; no internet access, csn not access game, cannot access apps, cannot watch blu ray , needs update. Its sad times with owning a console on any platform. I wish we could. Turn the clock but unfortunately we live in a world where software and hardware companies are trying to control everything which in turn will lead to an abundance of hacking, modding and so forwarth.

Are we grasping at straws over the possibility of the DRM rearing its ugly head again? Maybe not but, I don't think they will make a huge mistake like that again {at least not so full force}. I do believe the next time we see the DRM issue it will have crept up so gradually that we might not have a chance to be heard. Like a mosquito it will be long gone before we even know we have been bitten. And on that note I will dismiss this info as DRM related and just mark it up to unpatched software and an untimely ban.

You can check my comments I am a Sony guy, but it's time to take a step back and let XBOne breath. Not saying by any means not to give it to Microsoft when it's deserving, but this time I think its BS.

I have a feeling stupid fanboys are jumping the gun on this one... again.

Since the X1 OS is being constantly updated, I think we all should wait for November 22nd, to see what gives with the console... what it can do and what kind of DRM it has. I'm sure there are going to be out there a lot of testers...

As for the console being banned and not accessing the console system settings... if true, that's seriously f**ked up.

I disagree. No one deserves this... well it doesn't look like they are going to do anything about it so I guess we have to raise hell for our Xbox gamers. Dont worry guys we will gladly defend you. Microsoft, like Sony are just false Gods lol.

So wait were getting mad at MS because they banned him and then were getting mad at MS because the ban ( which is only until Launch may I add) is there to prevent him from releasing info which got him banned in the first place. Quite honestly if it was Sony the person would of been banned as well with the same restrictions if not more.

Before you go all " SHUT UP XBONE FANBOY !!!!" on me just know that I'm getting a PS4.

It sucks that he got completely banned like that but it was most likely the only way to stop him from leaking info before the launch date.

Theres only 11 days left until the Xb1 launch date, anyway. Unless Microsoft has plans to do a full console breakdown and lay all their cards on the table and release ALL XB1 information, at the last minute....then there is no need to keep or prevent people from talking about it, in the first place.

If there are some features, missing features, glitches, bugs or dirty little secrets that Microsoft doesnt want ousted...11 days before launch...you gotta wonder WHY. Why they dont want people talking about the UI, system settings and what it can or cant do.

More to the point...if Microsoft would come out and release all info NOW...other people wouldnt feel the need to.

So it kinda makes you wonder...what are they hiding? What are they NOT saying? And what do THEY know...that we dont? And why are they waiting until after people have bought and paid for it, after Nov 22nd...to let people talk about it? Dont they realize, that if we find one thing...just ONE thing wrong with this console...were taking it back to the retailer with reciept and warranty in hand, and getting our money back?!

Is it a new function of the XBL ban? Is it the game itself? Infinity Ward needed online Cloudz power or something? Is it the X1 patch? Maybe still incomplete and being tested?

EDIT: I could be wrong but I'm very skeptical that the X1 original DRM policies are at work here, what we could have seen in action if their DRM has still be in place. Microsoft would have seen how much more appreciative gamers were without DRM and it would be a D--- move to pull another 180 so soon :(

That's not typically what a ban means. Even today's current gen consoles let you play your games offline, if you get banned, permabanned or suspended from the network.

Never in all of console history, has a company EVER restricted offline games and system setting functionality...as a result of a BAN.

In general terms, a console ban typically means you have simply been denied access to the network for a period of time.

And if the patch he downloaded ISNT the so called "Day One Patch"....then Microsoft still has some explaining to do in regard to WTF was it that Moonlightswammi downloaded, if not the official patch? Especially when the day one patch was the ONLY patch in existence, confirmed by Microsoft to appear on your XB1 console, at launch.

In the past Microsoft has never really bricked a console but the software and tools they have available to them they are most certainly able to do it. In this case, they did in order to prevent him from disclosing information about unfinished software.

Which is partly an answer to your second statement, they don't any an explanation to whichever patch he downloaded. As we all know the console development is coming down to the wire, and Swarmi got in early. MS did not state their were any other patches... but then again they haven't told us how many versions their software has gone through either. Perhaps that was a dev patch from a while ago. But if it works like all Xbox patches you wouldn't have known about previous cause it just bundles them all up into one. So what does it matter if their were none or even 400 patches before the Day one patch during the dev cycle, do you honestly feel entitled to know that?

So youre basically theorizing, that even tho Microsoft has never bricked a console in the past (not once, in all of history) that they somehow retain the tools to be able to do so, any time they wanted...and for some reason, you think Moonlightswammi is the special VIP that get's his console bricked in all of XBox history? Just because he posted some random things on the internet? He violated no NDA agreement or the ToS....and yet, people treat this guy like he was GEOHOTZ for posting the keys to the PS3 on the internet???

Wanna talk about "research" read the TOS rather than Yahoo Answers and some fourm for your answers.

I'll highlight it for you

For Microsoft:

"Microsoft may, among other things...upgrade, modify, withdraw, suspend, or discontinue any functionality or feature of the Service, any game or other content available or accessible through the Service, or any HARDWARE or software associated with the Service or with an original Xbox or Xbox 360 console, or personal computer"

And for Sony:

"SCEA may take all actions to protect its interests, including... implementation of upgrades or DEVICES intended to discontinue unauthorized use"

Basically they reserve the right to modify or disable your hardware at their discretion as they see fit.

And to top it all off here's A. Penellos response on the issu of CoD and basically confirming every single thing I said.

You might be right with regards to the x360 but with X1 they can brick your console i have seen numerous videos of people powering it up initiating the step by step configuration and on the 3rd from last step (dont hold me to that) text appears saying banned etc... that is fact aswell if you want a link i can provide one.

I think Swami getting his X1 early is a blessing in disguise. He got to beta test the console for the rest of us and may have averted an even worse situation, just imagine if issues like this happened at launch.

There is absolutely nothing to question. The system release date is 11/22. Someone got one before then due to a merchant's error. Said system is not ready to be activated. MS would rather not have people posting pictures and videos of a system running without the day one update. If that doesn't make sense to you almost instantly, then you're either a kid, a fanboy or an idiot.

If that happened to me I wouldnt give a shit if Major Nelson called me out personally. I'd straight out tell that company and its representatives systems going back to the store, getting a refund, and F*ck off Major Nelson.

What a bunch of trash. Guy gets it early and they feel the need to bully him with console bans and making him sign agreements he wont talk about the system until it officially comes out.I dont even understand how anyone would even want to support MS this time around. 499$ pos dance dance kinect machine.